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The Underrated Files: Video Game Soundtracks You (Probably) Missed

At the PAX East Composer’s Panel, an interesting question was posed to composer Kevin Riepl: aside from Aliens: Colonial Marines, had he ever poured so much time and work into a soundtrack only to have the game suck or go largely unnoticed? When a game does as poorly as Aliens: Colonial Maries did, critically, it’s very rare that people then attempt to hunt down the soundtrack. Likewise, when a game releases to a mediocre or lukewarm fanfare, the soundtrack rarely sees publication.

Now, this isn’t always the case. Take the cult classic Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4. The game was released toward the end of the PS2′s life cycle and as such never achieved huge sales numbers but the soundtrack is renowned for being one of the best of its kind. I’m not here to tell you about the cult classics or soundtrack canon you should know about (that’s a different article), but rather the hidden gems you have missed. Maybe you missed it because you assumed the soundtrack was as bad as the game, or maybe you missed it because it’s not yet available to purchase.

Here are 7 phenomenal soundtracks that rose above their unfortunate or unnoticed game counterparts. Some of these may never see retail release, others may be purchased right now, but they all deserve more recognition than they currently receive.

Aliens: Colonial Marines – Kevin Riepl

I wish I could say this is Kevin’s only underrated soundtrack on this list but, it’s not. I think by now we have all acknowledged that Gearbox’s sequel to Cameron’s classic Aliens was, at best, a monumental disappointment and at worst, an affront to the franchise. Not a single person who has played it seems to have anything good to say about the game save one feature: the soundtrack. Riepl is no stranger to moody, atmospheric horror pieces and Aliens: Colonial Marines allowed him to shine in the best of ways. Somehow, Riepl managed to pay homage to two of the greatest sci-fi scores in history, while also creating his own, memorable sound.

Not that I can point you to a single example because guess what? Due to licensing issues with FOX, the soundtrack is not available to purchase. Nor will it be in the foreseeable future. You can find five tracks from the score on Kevin Riepl’s site, but that appears to be all that’s available. It’s a shame because as far as action horror soundtracks go, this was pretty stellar.

Hunted: The Demon’s Forge – Kevin Riepl

Back in 2011, Bethesda released inXile Entertainment’s co-op fantasy dungeon crawler, Hunted: The Demon’s Forge, with little fanfare. In fact, I’m willing to bet a large number reading this article won’t even remember the game. It wasn’t a terrible game, it just suffered from some poor design choices and very little by way of marketing or publisher support. The game received mixed reviews and did not sell well, which is probably why the soundtrack was never released for purchase. It’s a shame because Riepl managed to create a stunning soundtrack that had both his dark, action tones alongside a surprising fantasy tone. The soundtrack was one of the few saving graces of the game and the foreboding strings coupled with resounding brass managed to elevate even the most mediocre of cutscenes. Fortunately, Kevin Riepl has the soundtrack on his personal site, for your listening pleasure.

Lair – John Debney

Factor 5′s 2007 PS3-exclusive Lair, should have been an amazing game. The graphics were a gorgeous display of the PS3′s prowess, the story was fairly interesting and the main character was a dude who rode dragons for a living. Impossible for it fail, right? Wrong. Unfortunately the game’s control scheme relied too heavily on the Sixaxis motion controls causing critics and fans universal frustration and ire. In fact, one of the only nice things many outlets had to say about the game was John Debney’s soundtrack.

It’s telling that Debney recorded Lair’s soundtrack at Abbey Road with a massive orchestra — despite the game’s faults, it’s clear that Sony was banking on a major, early PS3 hit. The soundtrack brings to mind the sounds of John Williams’ Phantom Menace soundtrack, with many pieces featuring dramatic chorals. Fortunately, this soundtrack is available for purchase, and may be found on iTunes.

Dante’s Inferno – Garry Schyman

What can be said about EA’s Dante’s Inferno that hasn’t already been said about Michael Bay‘s Ninja Turtles? Visceral’s attempt to modernize Vergil’s most well-known book of The Divine Comedy was met with mixed reactions, to say the least. Some critics adored it, accepting its very loose interpretation of the source material as endearing, while others panned unimaginative gameplay and God of War-esque stylings. Couple this with a scandalous (read: tasteless) ad campaign on EA’s behalf, and what was once controversy is now largely forgotten.

Except the soundtrack. Garry Schyman’s soundtrack features lofty chorals that often border on operatic and are surprisingly good for a game which focused a bit too much on topless lust demons. The soundtrack is available from iTunes and Amazon and should be on your list to check out.

Nier Gestalt & Replicant- Keiichi Okabe

Square-Enix’s attempt at a fresh, new action/RPG in 2010 was one of an interesting, ambitious story ultimately hampered by antiquated gameplay. While Nier garnered a devout cult following, critics and fans largely panned the game, making for a slow-selling, forgotten entry to the “large swords and zippers” category. Once again, though, the soundtrack was something of art. Okabe’s sweeping score runs the gambit of the orchestra, featuring an earthy, fantasy tone coupled with light, airy chorals. Several tracks have a chiming rhythm that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head for a few hours. It’s difficult to say which of the two discs is better, so just buy them both via iTunes and Amazon. You won’t be sorry.

Freedom Fighters – Jesper Kyd

This one is a big of a cheat, I totally admit it. Back before IO Interactive created a more well-known franchise called Kane & Lynch, they released a third-person shooter set in New York, after the Soviets have invaded. You play a freedom fighter trying to repel the — you know what? It’s basically “Red Dawn the Video Game” but with great action and gameplay. The sole complaint most players had was that it was woefully short and that the story ended right as it picked up. The soundtrack was not only amazing, it was consistently voted one of the best soundtracks of 2003. Jesper Kyd managed to combine tense, atmospheric synths with strong chorals, reminiscent of a Russian choir mixed with Vangelis. The soundtrack is available from Sumthing Else and Amazon and has held up surprisingly well over the years.

Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins – Noriyuki Asakura

As far as stealth games go, Tenchu is one of the most beloved of the PS1 era (settle down, remember that most stealth games stayed on the PC back in those days) and it featured a great soundtrack to boot — this is known. What fans can’t seem to agree on was how good the sequel, Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins, was. It released to marginal critical reviews and while some fans appreciated the deeper look at House Gohda’s history, many couldn’t overlook some glaring issues with the game. Which is probably why Noriyuki Asakura’s soundtrack wasn’t released until 2006.

Tenchu 2 featured, by far and away, the best music in the franchise and it’s a shame that many fans resorted to pirating it in light of being unable to purchase it. It features the franchise’s classic mix of synth and Japanese sounds, with “Hyouteki” as the standout single. It’s available for purchase via iTunes , and for fans of the franchise and music style, it’s well worth your $10, even if you didn’t like a forced romance between Tatsumaru and Kagami.

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